Feeling good about the 4310

[LAXPatrick]

...in the spirit of the 4110 poster!

I've had my tractor for over a month now - it's been great!

First project was to flatten some berms down the pasture that used to be a dirt bike track. The 4310/430 loader handled that with no problem whatsoever - although I did almost flip it when carrying some dirt going downhill slightly off camber. Lesson learned, no harm no foul. I'm lucky to be unharmed follwoing that episode. I ALWAYS wear the safety belt when I'm digging now.

Got to try out the 6' rear blade - works great. With more practice I get more proficient. My general observation is that there are two ways to get it done - multiple, gradual passes, or one pass with skilled constant adjustment of blade height. Since I lack skill, the multiple passes serve me quite well...

I got the 1072E rear grooming mower - works quite well. Handles the heavier grass fine and does a good job. I've entertained thoughts of upgrading to the non "E" version. I bought an IMatch only to find out that it's not compatible with that mower so the IMatch may have to go back. Either that or I spend more money and get the heavier mower. I think I'm glad that I did the 3 pt mower - comes on and off easily and once I got used to the wide swinging deck on turns, I was cooking. Nice to be able to back the mower into spots.

Loader is a beast. Next major project will probably be to build some kind of ballast box - maybe the muck bucket version or similar. I'm getting 35 yds of screenings for the pole barn Friday, so I'll likely wish I had that...

Moved the boat around the other day - 19'Kenner bay boat. Much more maneuverable than the Dodge for moving it around the property! I informed the wife-in-training (right!) that she missed an excellent photo op in the life of our baby (4310). Not impressed. I don't think I've got the guts to move the gooseneck horse trailer around with the 4310. I'll leave that to the truck.

Overall, I'm thrilled with the tractor. When I began my quest, I'd started with the 2210 and its kin. I think that the 4010 would've been my "ideal minimum" for my horse property needs. That said, I can appreciate the additional stability, power, and features of the 4310. My hinder certainly appreciates the nice suspended seat. I did the 50 hour service myself (bought it "new" with 42 hours driven by an old lady to/from church) and that was a good get-acquainted session with the tractor. Only outstanding issues are a missing hood guard (it's in!) low fluid in the front axle and need more hydraulic trans fluid to top it off (it takes a LOT of that). Love the eHydro and LoadMatch seems to do a good job of making sure that I keep on going and don't worry about what it's doing.

LAXPatrick

 

[deerefandave]

I've had mine exactly 1 year. I too have a 4310, with a FEL (430) and love it. I have a horse farm too, with pretty good size property to maintain. We also just finished a large addtion to the house, so I've got to put it to the test. I've moved yards and yards of soil, and done all of the landscaping. Even built two retaining walls with those 60+ pound engineered blocks. The loader (72"bucket) handled 12 of them NO PROBLEM.

One thing you should consider is balasting the tires instead of the weight box. I bought the weightbox with mine, used it for 6 months or so, then got the tires filled with calcuim and water. I'm MUCH happier. Cost about $100 or so at the local tire dealer (you have to find one that will do it.) I don't have a trailer for mine, so I had to take the tires off to bring them in. The hard part was getting them back on!

I can now handle a FULL load of wet soil, and not worry about traction or tipping unless I'm on VERY uneven ground. Even still, I'm very carefull, wear that belt!

Good idea on the 3pt mower, I have the 7 iron, and it spends most of it's life in the corner of the barn. (anyone want one? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )


-D

 

[LAXPatrick]

Sounds like you're putting it to the test!

I've considered filling the tires, but I'm concerned about the extra weight when I'm mowing - I've got R4's and I'm not too thrilled with the prospect of more damage when I'm knocking down the dandelion crop. Thoughts?

PC

 

[txhawg]

I would use both. I have filled rears, and there have been a couple of times when I have lifted the rear wheels. The only good substitute for a really heavy balalst box is my MX5, because of the leverage it provides hanging so far off the back. The problem is, that it hangs so far off the back. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif I am saving for a ballast box and will fill it with the heaviest weight possible. Oops, I forgot, my wife won't let me chop up my mother in law to make her fit. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Dang, I'll have to find some lead somewhere.

 

[rockyridgefarm]

<font color="green"> The only good substitute for a really heavy balalst box is my MX5 </font>

NO

NO

NO!!!

A backhoe is the ONLY effective rear ballast, pound for pound. None of the others add another set to your tractor... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[JEP]

You should be fine with loaded R4's. Make sure the ground is dry and gentle with starts and stops. I rarely tear up the grass. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[txhawg]

Mike,

On the one hand you are correct. I think ound for pound, a BH is probaly best for ballast. On the other hand, if I do get a backhoe, I will never be able to make my tractor fly like the one in your sig, what with all that extra weight and all. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I can tell you from the hour of playing I got to do on a 4310, it would be one of my top choices for a 30+HP tractor. I was very impressed with the design of the tractor, on first glance there were a lot of things that I thought were in the wrong places! (bear in mind I currently use a New Holland and a Kubota, but don't hold that against me) After sitting on the machine and playing and touching and thinking I realized that some of the positions of things that I thought were strange were actually absolutely genius locations to put them. I wish my dealer were one of the good one, but I don't hold that against the brand. The 4310 is an awesome machine for its size range, to say I am impressed with it is an understatement. Its good to know that it lives up to all the things I think are true about it, have fun with your tractor!

 

[dmp437]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Sounds like you're putting it to the test!

I've considered filling the tires, but I'm concerned about the extra weight when I'm mowing - I've got R4's and I'm not too thrilled with the prospect of more damage when I'm knocking down the dandelion crop. Thoughts?

PC )</font>

My R4's are filled with RimGuard and the front tires cut worse than the loaded rears when mowing the lawn. I'm in the middle of moving a couple of hundred yards of clay around for a motorcross track and when using the tractor to compact the dirt on the faces of the jumps, the fronts do a better job (more pressure per square inch) because of their narrower profile.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I love mine.

2years and 7 months old, 165 hours on the meter, No problems.